Business

Dairy farming is changing as smaller farmers fall by the wayside and bigger operations expand. David Beca, director of Australian company Red Sky and CEO of NZ Farming Uruguay, dispels some misconceptions about economies of scale.

Federico Boglione, the company president of one of the biggest dehydrated milk product suppliers in the world, says the main pillars of success of his Argentinian-based family business, Los Lazos, are diversification and value-adding. Denene Erasmus reports.

A once-destitute Seenteko tea farm has received an overhaul that will see a failed sector productive once more. Plandaí Biotechnology will produce green tea extract on the farm. Lindi van Rooyen reports.

The pending reopening of the land claims window for a further five years could see a flood of claims being lodged on South African farms. With more than 7 000 land claims yet to be researched and gazetted by government, farmers are advised to familiarise themselves with the process and their rights. Lindi van Rooyen spoke to Annelize Crosby, legal advisor for Agri SA.

Aquaponics involves the organic production of crops and fish in a holistic system – the plants are cultivated using fish waste as the main source of nutrients. Leslie Ter Morshuizen in Grahamstown has established an aquaponics tunnel system to test its commercial viability.

Tina Joemat-Pettersson’s current term as minister of agriculture is drawing to a close. Speaking to Alita van der Walt and Anneli Groenewald, she highlights her successes, and explains how she plans to ensure food security in South Africa.

Rural communities and farm workers can supplement their incomes by cashing in on South Africa’s honey shortage. With African Honey Bee’s business model, budding beekeepers can gain the skills to operate independently. Lindi van Rooyen reports.

Through dedication and hard work, William Matasane of Senekal in the Free State has changed from being a restaurant manager to an award-winning commercial farmer in less than 10 years. Peter Mashala visited him on his farm Keurfontein.

Martin Fick and Adriaan Olivier led a group of ostrich farmers in the Eastern Cape to success.

Agricultural production in Africa is generally considered to be underutilised. Many therefore think that the continent is ideal for new commercial forestry plantations to meet global demand. But these ventures are not for the faint-hearted, as Lloyd Phillips reports.

Zakhe Agricultural College, situated on Baynesfield Estate in KwaZulu-Natal, celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Principal and executive officer, Richard Dladla, gives an overview of this private college.

The sugar industries of SA and Réunion Island may have different production challenges, but the ways in which each industry is tackling its problems can help the other. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Kiki Agri’s Philip Kilian explains to Peter Mashala how backyard broiler farming could help boost food security in poor households, thanks to a new easy-to-install system.

Sarah Allan decided to install renewable energy systems for her farm three years ago, but this turned out to be far more complex than first anticipated. She shares her hard-earned lessons with Robyn Joubert.

A honey bee farming initiative started by Reginald and Irma Jacobus in Friemersheim has brought hope to this rural town by helping to stem the tide of unemployment and poverty. Denene Erasmus reports.

Amongst the mostly abandoned factories and warehouses of Dimbaza, a small mohair weaving facility still produces internationally acclaimed 100% mohair carpets. Mike Burgess visited the Dimbaza Mohair Weavers factory.

Robyn Joubert reports on how the government and commodity organisations are working to provide South Africa with more farmers, semi-skilled workers, specialists and artisans.

It seems that red meat consumers never benefit from lower farmgate prices. Could it be that the middleman is milking consumers for all they’re worth, while suppressing farmers’ income? This issue was debated at the Northern Cape Red Meat Producers’ Organisation congress.

With local demand for tree nuts increasing, De Wet van Rooyen and Hannes Jansen of Montagu Dried Fruit and Nuts – one of the largest suppliers of nuts in South Africa – are encouraging farmers to supply this growing market. Denene Erasmus reports.

Oceanwise in the Eastern Cape is one of the largest land-based marine finfish recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in the world. Mike Burgess visited this pioneering initiative.